Container closure



June 10, 1952 F. A. VASTANO 2,600,086

CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed Jan. 21. 1949 Bnvenfor FXEDMICKA Easy v0 8g I I0/ A) Mll Patented June 10, 1952 CONTAINER CLOSURE Frederick A. Vastano,Glen Rock, N. J., assignor of one-half to Alfred W. Vibber, Ridgewood,-

Application January 21, 1949, Serial No. 71,980

This invention relates to a removable and replaceable container closuresuch as a bottle cap.

The invention has among its objects the provision of a container closureof the indicated character which is simple and rugged in construction,and which is characterized by the ease and quickness of its applicationto or removal from a container.

The invention in one preferred embodiment thereof has as a furtherobject the provision of a cap which is adjustable so as readily to beapplicable to bottles having cap engaging beads on the neck thereof ofvarious heights.

These and further objects of the invention will be more readily apparentupon consideration of the description of preferred embodiments thereof.

In the drawing appended hereto and forming part of the specification thecontainer closure is shown in the form of a cap for a bottle.

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the first embodiment of the bottlecap, in which provision is made to adjust the body of the cap tocompensate for different heights of the cap retaining beads on bottles;

Fig. 2 is a view in plan of the bottle cap shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in vertical cross section through the axis of the capof Figs. 1 and 2, the section being taken along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2;and

Fig. 4 is a view in vertical cross section through the axis of a secondembodiment of the cap of the invention, the body of the cap beingintegral.

As above indicated, Figs. 1, 2, and 3 depict the first illustratedembodiment of the invention, and Fig. 4 the second. In Figs. 1, 2, and 3the cap is designated generally by the reference character 2. Body 2 ismade round in plan and of such diameter as to overlap the upper end ofthe neck of bottle 4 on which it is affixed. Body 2 has a dependin skirt8 in one portion thereof somewhat exceeding 180 in angular extent. Thevertical termini of such skirt are designated l4 and I6. Skirt 8 carrieson it lower edge the inwardly extending flange l2, the upper surface ofwhich is inclined upwardly from the axis of body 2. Flange l2 engagesbeneath bead ID on the upper end of the bottle neck and, because of itsangular extent about the axis of body 2, stably holds the cap on thebottle against vertical displacement when the cap is fully appliedthereto. Termini M and I6 of skirt 8 and thus flange 12 are madesufiiciently far apart to allow the cap to be slid sideways into theposition shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the neck enterin between the termini ofthe skirt.

2 Claims. (01. 215-s7 Body 2 is provided vertically and axially thereofwith the threaded opening l8, as shown. Into opening I8 is screwed thelower threaded cylindrical portion 20 of the adjustable upper part ofthe cap. Such upper part of the cap is provided with two spaced verticalparallel ears 22 and 24. Part 20 is provided with a vertical and axiallyextending bore 26 in which is slidingly received the plunger 28. Plunger28 is of a diameter, in the illustrated embodiment, equal to thedistance between the fiat inner faces of ears 22 and 24. Plunger 28carries on its upper end the oppositely extending lateral projections 30and 32. Such projections prevent plunger 28 from falling out of the bodyof the cap when such cap is disengaged from the bottle. The uppersurface 33 of the plunger, including projections 30 and 32, is smoothlycurved downwardly from the axis, in vertical cross section, as shown inFig. 3. The elements of surface 33 in a direction normal to the paper inFig. 3 are straight.

Afiixed to the bottom of plunger 28 by means of the headed nib 3Bintegral with the plunger and extending through the disc is the bottleneck spanning disc 34. Such disc, which has its outer edge downwardlyflanged at 38, has attached to its bottom surface, as by means of anadhesive, the sealing member 40. Member 40, which is resilient andimpervious in character, may be made of an elastomer such as natural orsynthetic rubber, as shown. The member 40 spans the opening in thebottle neck, and is pressed into sealing relation to the lip of thebottle when plunger 28 and thus disc 34 are thrust downwardly relativeto body 2.

The means thus to thrust the plunger and disc downwardly takes the formof a cam 64 pivoted on the upper portion of the main body on the headedpin 42 between the ears 22 and 24. Such cam is symmetrical on both sidesof its central point a. Point (1 lies the closest to the axis of pivotpin 42, the active surface of the cam on each side of point a recedingfrom the center of the pin until the point b is reached. Each sideportion of the cam from the point 12 outwardly to the end of the curvedactive cam surface is in the form of an arc concentric with the axis ofpin 42, Cam 44 is rotated by means of the lever 46 integral therewith.

The manner of use of the cap will be obvious from the above. The cap is,of course, applied to the bottle with the handle 46 extendingsubstantially vertical, thus leaving plunger 28 to travel freelyupwardly so that disc 34 and gasket 40 may be thrust upwardly into therecess 48 in 'main body 2. After the cap has been slid into position onthe bottle, the upper portion of the main body may be rotated relativeto the lower portion thereof to screw part 20 up or down as required.Such adjustment, of course, varies the distance of the pivotal center ofcam 44 from the bead engaging surface of flange l2, and thus; also thedistance from the bottom of gasket 40 to such surface of flange 12 whenlever 46 is vertical. Such adjustment is not usually necessary uponre-application of the cap to a bottle on whichit has previously beenused.

After the cap has been so mounted on. thebot tle, the lever 46 is swungeither clockwise or counterclockwise, as desired, until an end,circularly arcuate, portion of. cam #4. lies in: con-r tact with surface33 of plunger 28. In such position the cam is stably held because suchare of the cam is circular, and because of the friction between cam andplunger. It is preferred: that the dimensions of'the parts be-such thatlever 46 contacts the upper edge of body 6 of the. cam as shown in Fig;1-, when the. cam is turned to-ful-ly sealing position. Thecap-is:releasedby swing.- ing, lever 46 toupright position, after. which: thecap may be removed by sliding it laterally. Although desirable, theadjusting feature of the above described embodiment. ofthe cap: is. notnecessary in carrying out the broad invention. In Fig. 4' a cap 2? witha one piece main bodyis shown insealing positiononabottle. Therparts inFig. 4 which are. the same as those in-the first embodiment aredesignated. by the: same reference characters.

In Fig. 4, as explained,.mainbody 6 of cap 2 has integral therewiththespaced, parallel, verticaLear-s. of: which one is-shwn1at.-24. Body 6has a vertical axial bore. 26 therethrough. such borecarrying slidinglywithin it the plunger. 28. The plunger-is thrust downwardly with.respect to the flange l2 carried by skirt 8' on the main body by. meansof the cam- M, as. in the first embodiment.

Tocompensate far. varyingheights of head on the bottle and. variations.inthe: distancefrom the undersideof suchbeadtdthelip ofi the hottle-,the sealing gasket 48 is madesubstantially thicker. than the. thicknessnecessary for gasket Ml inthe firstembodiment. Thus: gasket 40'? 1 hasin addition to its. sealingfunction. acushioning action, whichallows ittoeffect atighipseal even though the-underside of bead- It! lies closer.to the lip of the bottle'than usual, and. also. allowsthe application ofthe cap..to. bottles without undue strain on the cam and plunger, wherethe under..- side of head l8. liesfurther fromthelip. of; the bottlethan usuall The bottle cap ofboth. describedv embodiments of theinvention is simple to. operate and can be applied to or removed from.a. bottle. in a very short time. Inadditi'on, because ofthe mechanicaladvantage afforded by the camand. operating lever, the sealingis.effected without undue exertion on the part. of the user...

Whereas for purposes. offill'ust'ration I'have described. preferred;embodiments, of the. container closure of the invention. it is obviousthat the closure is capableofconsiderable variation as to details. Theinvention is therefore definedby thescope of the claims appendedhereto'.

I claim as new the following:

1. A closure for a container having an opening comprising a plunger, acontainer engaging means mounting the plunger for reciprocation towardand away from the opening in the container, means to seal the opening inthe container mounted on the opening confronting end of the plunger, acam journa-led in the plunger mounting means cooperating with theplunger, means to rotate the cam to advance the sealing means intosealing engagement with the surface of. the container surrounding theopening, and means to vary the distance between the axis of the cam andthe container engaging means.

2". A cap'for a bottle having a neck, an opening at the top of the neck,and a bead encircling the neck, comprising a main body having two majorportions, the first, bottom, portion being adapted to overlie the upperend of the bottle neck, a depending skirt on such first portion havingbead engaging meansthereon,v the first portion having. a vertical axialthreaded opening therein, the second, top; portion having a lowerthreaded endadiustably screwed into the opening in the first portion, avertical axial here through the second portion, a plunger reciprocablymounted in the bore in the second portion, saidplunger having an upperand a lower end, means to seal the opening in the bottle mounted on thelower end of the plunger, spaced vertically extending parallel earsonthe second portion of the body, a cam journalledon a horizontalaxis inthe main body between the earsand cooperating with the upper. end of theplunger, the cambeing symmetrical. about-the midpoint ofits-activesurface, such midpoint lying closest to the pivotal axisofithe. cam,.the cam increasing in radius in directions away. from suchmidpoint, the end zones of the active surface of the cambeing.substantially. concentric with the pivotal axis ofthe cam,.and a leverconnected-to" the cam and lying between the ears on the canmainbod'y't'o rotate the cam in either direction from the. position in whichits midpoint confrontsthe' plunger to ad'- vance the sealing means intosealing engagement with the surface of the bottle neck surrounding theopening.

FREDERICK A: VASTANO.

' GIT-ED The following. references are of record in the file of thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 55,248 Dalby' June'fi; 1866110,757 Farnham- Jan: 3, 1 81-1 24,'72"0' Monier et'al Apr. 1, 1890rpsaasa carr- July 23; 1912 21132775 Casablancas Oct. 11', 1938 231L198Andreasson' Feb. 16, 1943 2388 950" Guarnaschelli Oct. 30, 1945 FOREIGNPATENTS- Number Country Date 3,100 Great Britain Nov. 18, 1862 5719 28Germany July28, 1891 66302 Germany July 23, 1912 102,507 SwitzerlandDec; 30', 1922 1452304 1 Germany: Get; 30, 1903

